Safety-tread.



J. 0. FOWLER.

' SAFETY TREAD.

APPLICATION man IAN-14. 191s.

Patented May16,1916.

J. 0. FOWLER.

SAFETY TREAD. I APPLICATION FILED JAN.14, 1916- 1 ,13,365.- Patented May16,1916.

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sr a'rne JONATHAN O. FOWLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY-TREAD.

Application filed. January 14, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JONATHAN O. Fow Lnn, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Safety- Tread, of which the following is a specifi cation, the same being a full, clear, and ex act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, this application being a continuation in part of my application filed October 25, 1910, Serial No. 588,995, patented October 18, 1916, N0. 1,169,07i.

This device relates to non-slipping devices, such as sandals or emergency overshoes for horses, ice creepers, non-skidding attachments for tires and other articles des ignated to afford protection against sliding on slippery places.

To attain the desired end the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a bottom view and Fig. 2 a side elevation of a horses hoof equipped with my invention; Fig. 3 is another bottom view of a hoof on which is mounted a safety tread in which my invention is embodied; Fig. 4: is a view in detail of a calk, calk holder, and connecting links; Fig. 5 represents a calk; and Figs. 6 and 7 calk holders: Fig. 8 is a plan view of another calk and calk holding means constructed according to my invention; Fig. 9 is a detail view of a calk used with the latter; Fig. 10 represents the last named calk used in connection with another. calk holding means; Fig. 11 is an elevation of the same; and Fig. 15 is a section thereof; Fig. 12 is a plan view of a calk and calk holding means; Fig. 13 is a detail view of a calk used with the lat ter; Fig. 14: is an elevation in which is shown a calk with front and rear projections; Fig. 16 is an elevation of separate front and rear calks and a holder therefor; Fig. 17 is a 7 detail of a portion of the calk holder; Fig.

18 is a detail of the rear calk; Fig. 19 is an elevation and 20 a side view of connected front and rear calks and a holder therefor; Fig. 21 is an elevation of mv I, safety tread applied to a vehicle Wheel 1; Fig.

22 isa plan view thereof; Fig. 23 is an ele- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1.916.

Serial no. "22,044.

vation of another tread constructed according to my invention applied to a wheel; and Fig. 21 is a side view thereof.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts inall the views. I

Referring to the drawings, 1. denotes the foot of a horse, and 2 the ordinary shoe thereof, on which is mounted a sandal comprising a plurality of detachable calk holders, as 3 and 1-, which may carry a calk, as a hollow block 5, adapted to be held on the said calk by positioning devices, as the pin 6. The calk holders are connected together by a flexible strand, as by links 7. The tread is held to the hoof by attaching means, as links 7 and straps S and 9. By the use of a plurality of connected links a certain freedom of movement is attained in the tread, and I may increase the same by substituting upon the duplex calk holders 3 and 4t resilient calks, as a series of rings 10, or a coil 111 for the calk 5. In the latter case the action of the horse, in first putting his toe to the ground to obtain a foothold and then in exerting a strain on the tread in a relatively backward direction, will temporarily compress the convolutions of the coils which move relatively rearward along the tread. Upon raising his foot again, the convolutions will exert a reactive force against the positioning means and will again resume their normal positions. The call-Is thus have an oscillating movement, moving first opposite to the direction of travel while engaged with the ground, and when released resuming their normal positions along the interior supporting means.

The front and rear portions of the hoof attachment may be connected, as by a link 21. The hoof attaching means may comprise, in connection with straps, as 8 and 9, calk holding means, as a plate 12. and two preferably practically rigid side links, as 13, which may be used in lieu of flexible links 7. The plate 12 rests upon the front of the hoof and is turned under the shoe and is preferably perforated to allow the projection. as 16, of the therebelow posi tioned calk 15 to pass therethrough. The links 13, also attached by straps 8 and 9, pass down the sides of the hoof and beneath the same adjacent to side projections, as 17, andsometimes through bands, as 14, encircling the calk 15 and the plate 12 the parts being held in position by the turned ends of the links 13, with or without the use of cotter pins 6 which may pierce the exterior ends of the links 13. The bands 11 may be dispensed with and the ends of the links 13 be passed through, or positioned adjacent to, the plate 12 and in that case the calk may be held in position by the ends of the links 13, or by cotter pins 6, or by both. The calk 15 may also have a projection, as 18, extending from its opposite face, and adapted to rest against the rear edge of the front portion of the shoe. In lieu of integral projections the calk may carry a plurality of rings, as 19, or, if preferred, a coil as 111, encircling the same, which rings, as well as the calk, may be detached at will from the tread. To this end I sometimes make the calk holder in duplex form, as 3 and 4., which parts may be held together, and the calk also held in position by screws, rivets, cotter pins, or other positioning means. If desired, the calk, as 15, may be extended rearwardly under the shoe and may carry a projection or supplemental calk as 20 to contact the ground. The rear calks 20 may be used in a detachable relation as regards the calk 15, as where they are held. in side frames 22 engaged with the cross links 13 and strap 9 and secured to the said frames, as by pins 23 and cotter pins 6. Or, if preferred the said rear calks 20 may be inserted in a spring frame 24 passing under the shoe, and preferably lying adjacent to the calk 15, and being held in operative position by side frames 22 in the manner indicated above.

My non-slipping device may be applied to the tires of wheels to prevent skidding of the same, in which case I may use a series of elastic or flexible devices, as spring strands 25, connectedby calks, as strands comprising links 7. In operation, by the rolling contact with the ground, there will be exerted a strain on the tread as the rearward links 7 in a relatively backward direction, which will temporarily compress the convolutions of the coil springs. Upon the wheel moving farther around, the coils will exert a reactive force against the positioning means, as a strap 9, and will again resume their normal positions. The links 7 thus have an oscillating movement, moving first opposite to the direction of travel while engaged with the ground, and, when released, resuming their original normal positions once more. Or, if desired, the elastic strands 25 may carry calks comprising plates 26' secured thereto, as by spools or rings 27 and 27, the ends of the elastic strand being held to the wheel by positioning means, as by bolts 28 passing through the body of the wheel.

In Figs. 3, 21 and 23, the directly connected holders for the non-slipping devices,

as tread elements or calks (as for example the sectional holder 3l at the rear coil 11 of Fig. 3; or, in use, the rear element 29 at the rear strand 7 of Fig. 21; or the rear movable holder 27 of the divided holders 27 and 27 at the plate 26 of Fig. 23), are mounted upon supports, as the hoof of a horse in Fig. 3, and a wheel in Figs. 21 and 23. In all cases the holder is movable relative to the support and the tread element or calk is movable relative to the holder thereof. The said holders for the substantially alined tread elements periodically come adjacent to and bring the calks 11, 7 and 26 in contact with the ground. When a tread element, as 11, 26, or rear strand 7 is in contact with the ground, the relative rearward movement of the support and holder with pin 6, strap 9, or bolt 28 will cause any suitable elastic means located forward of and intermediate the tread elements (as for example, the elastic relatively forward coil 111 at the calk 11, or the relatively forward elastic divisions or spaced portions of the coils 25) to become compressed in the path of travel (as by convolutions 25 being compressed between the entering holders or spools 27 and 2 which prevent any inward curving action of the convolutions)-and force the forward tread elements and elastic means to somewhat move rearwardly relative to the support in the line of compression, against the increased resistance of the relatively rearward or posterior substantially alined elastic means, or of the bunched series of tread elements and coils spaced or divided by the treads. The positioning means are provided not only to hold the tread element in position, but also to assist to limit the rearward movement of the same as, in the present instance, the rearward po sitioning means 6 in Fig. 3, and the rearward positioning strap 9 in Fig. 21,- or the rearward bolt 28 in Fig. 23, the divisable and separable holders 34 and 2727 entered in the convolutions serving to prevent buckling or circumferential flexion thereof which might otherwise occur. When the said tread element is moved from the ground by the subsequent movement of the support, the reaction of the said elastic means will cause the released tread elements to travel forward relative to the support and to resume their original or normal positions again, the reaction of the forward or anterior elastic means augmenting that of the relatively rearward alined elastic means to force the tread elements or calks back to their original relative forward positions, and to cause the said coils and holders to move relatively forward with the adjacent tread elements in unison, thus completing an oscillatory movement.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvi ous modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art.

The depending or inwardly projecting part of the tread 26 may lie exterior of the adjacent longitudinally engageable holders 27--27 for the spring, as shown in Fig. 24, the said depending part and the holders serving in this case as positioning means for the tread.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a device of the class described, a support, a non-slipping tread having an elastic gripping action and being movable relative to the support therefor, means to oscillate the tread comprising a holder mounted on the support so as to be movable relative to the latter and to periodically come adjacent to, and bring the tread in contact with, the ground, and flexible means located at the forward part of the tread, and also elastic and compressible in the path of travel to allow the tread to move, in the line of compression, relative to the support against the increased resistance of the posterior elastic means, whereby when the holder moves away from the ground, the reaction of the said elastic means will cause the tread to resume its original relative position.

2. In a device of the class described, a support, a non-slipping tread having an elastic gripping action and being movable relative to the support therefor, means to oscillate the same comprising a sectional holder mounted on the support so as to be movable relative to the latter and to periodically come adjacent to, and bring the tread in con tact with the ground, and flexible means located at the forward part of the tread, and also elastic and compressible in the path of travel to allow the tread to move, in the line of compression, rearwardly relative to the support against the increased resistance of the posterior elastic means, whereby when the holder moves away from the ground, the reaction of the said elastic means will cause the tread to resume its original relative forward position.

3. In a device of the class described, a support, a plurality of non-slipping treads having an elastic gripping action and being relatively movable in respect to a holder therefor, means to oscillate the same comprising a holder mounted on the support so as to periodically come adjacent to, and bring the treads in contact with the ground, and flexible means forward of each tread, and, when the holder is adjacent to the ground, elastic and compressible in the path of travel to allow the treads to move rearwardly in the line of compression, relative to the support, against the increased resistance of the posterior elastic means, and means to limit the rearward movement of the treads, whereby when the holder is moved away from the ground, the reaction of the said elastic means will cause the treads to resume their relative original forward positions.

4:. In a device of the class described, a support, a plurality of non-slipping treads hav ing an elastic gripping action and being relatively movable in respect to a holder therefor, means to oscillate the same comprising a sectional holder mounted on the support so as to be movable relative to the latter and to periodically come adjacent to, and bring the treads in contact with, the ground, and flexible means forward of each tread and intermediate adjacent treads, and, when the holder is adjacent to the ground, elastic and compressible in the path of travel to allow the treads to move rearwardly in the line of compression, relative to the support, against the increased resistance of the posterior elastic means, and means to limit the rearward movement of the treads, where by when the holder is moved away from the ground, the reaction of the said elastic means will cause the treads to resume their relative original forward positions.

5. In a device of the class described, a support, a plurality of non-slipping spaced devices comprising treads having an elastic gripping action and being movable relative to the support, means to oscillate each of the same comprising a holder mounted on the support so as to be movable relative to the latter and to periodically come adjacent to, and bring the tread in contact with, the ground, and flexible means located at the forward part of and intermediate the spaced treads, said flexible means being elastic and compressible in the path of travel to allow a tread when forced back by the holder to move, in the line of compression, rearwardly relative to the support against the increased resistance of the posterior elastic means, an other elastic means located in front of the first one, and a connection between the two; whereby, when a tread is in contact with the ground, the compression of the forward elastic means is added to that of the other elastic means, and when the holder is moved away from the ground by the support, the

reaction of the rearward elastic means augments that of the relatively forward elastic means to force the treads to their relative original forward positions.

6. In a device of the class described, a sup port, a plurality of substantially alined and spaced non-slipping devices comprising treads having an elastic gripping action and being movable relative to the support therefor, means to oscillate the same comprising a sectional holder mounted on a support so as to be movable relative to the latter and to periodically come adjacent to, and bring the tread in contact with, the ground, and flexible means located at the forward partof and intermediate the spaced treads, said flexible means being elastic and compressible in the path of travel to allow each tread when forced back by the holder to move, in the line of compression, rearwardly relative to the support against the increased resistance of the posterior elastic means, another elastic means located in front of, and substantially in alinement with, the first one, and a direct connection between the two, whereby, when a tread is in contact with the ground, the compression of the forward elastic means is added to that of the other elastic means, and when the holder is moved away from the ground by the support, the reaction of the rearward elastic means augments that of the relatively forward elastic means to force the treads to their original forward positions.

7. In a device of the class described, a support, a non-slipping tread having an elastic gripping action and being movable relati e to the support therefor, means to oscillate the same comprising a holder mounted on the support so as to be movable relative to the latter and to periodically come adjacent to, and bring the tread in contact with, the grouml. and substantially alined flexible means, located at the forward part of the tread, elastic and compressible in the path of travel to allow the tread, when forced back by the holder, to move in the line of compression, relatively to the support against the increased resistance of the posterior elastic means, and means to limit the said movement of the tread, whereby, when the holder is moved away from the ground, the reaction of the said elastic means will cause the tread to resume its relative original position.

8. In a device of the class described, a tread, a plurality of series of convolutions, a support therefor and for the tread, each series of convolutions being spaced from another one, means to hold the rearward portion of a convolution from relative move ment backward when the tread contacts the ground, and means to force the forward part of the convolution backward toward the rearward portion thereof upon the support being moved relatively rearward in use, and to allow the convolution to move relatively forward when the said adjacent tread is raised from the ground, thereby completing an oscillatory movement.

9. In a device of the class described, a tread, a plurality of approximately alined elastic devices, one on each side of the tread, asupport therefor and for the tread, means to hold the rearward portion of an elastic device from relative backward movement when the tread contacts the ground, and means to force the forward part of the clastic device backward toward the rearward portion thereof upon the support being moved relatively rearward in use, and to allow the elastic device to move relatively forward when the said adjacent tread is raised from the ground, thereby completing an oscillatory movement.

10. In a device of the class described, a tread, an adjacent elastic device, a support therefor, means to compress the elastic device, and a divisable and separable holder for the latter constructed and arranged to enter the same and to prevent buckling or circumferential fiexion thereof.

11. In a device of the class described, a tread, an adjacent elastic device, va support therefor, means to compress the elastic device, and a holder for the latter comprising divisable and separable longitudinally engageable members constructed and arranged to sustain the elastic device and to prevent buckling or circumferential fieXion thereof.

12. In a device of the class described, a tread, an approximately alined elastic device, a support for the latter and for the tread, means, when the tread contacts the ground, to force the forward part of the elastic device backward toward the rearward portion thereof upon the support being moved relatively rearward in use, and to allow the elastic device to expand to its normal condition when the tread is raised from the ground to complete an oscillatory movement, in combination with a relatively longitudinally disposed sustaining device to enter the said elastic device to prevent buckling or circumferential flexion thereof.

In testimony of the foregoing specification I do hereby sign the same in the city of New York, county and State of New York, this 8th day of January, 1916.

C. V. Bnn'rsorm, C. DICE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

